Euphorbia plant named ‘Bonpri 635’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia  plant named ‘Bonpri 635’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; inflorescences with white-colored flower bracts with red purple-colored venation; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. exKlotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BONPRI 635’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEuphorbia plant, an interspecific hybrid botanically known as Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Bonpri 635’.

The new Euphorbia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofa proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. exKlotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonprilipcom’, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 21,327. The new Euphorbia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a flowering plant from within a population of plants ofthe parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in YellowRock, New South Wales, Australia in June, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Euphorbia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yellow Rock, NewSouth Wales, Australia since June, 2007 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Euphorbia plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bonpri 635’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bonpri 635’ as a new and distinct Euphorbiaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Inflorescences with white-colored flower bracts with red        purple-colored venation.    -   6. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Yellow Rock, New South Wales,Australia, plants of the new Euphorbia differ primarily from plants ofthe parent, ‘Bonprilipcom’, in flower bract color as plants of‘Bonprilipcom’ have pink-colored flower bracts.

Plants of the new Euphorbia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapukherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonpriho’, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,296. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inYellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Euphorbiadiffered from plants of ‘Bonpriho’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euphorbia were shorter than plants of        ‘Bonpriho’.    -   2. Plants of the new Euphorbia were not as vigorous as plants of        ‘Bonpriho’.    -   3. Plants of the new Euphorbia were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Bonpriho’.    -   4. Plants of the new Euphorbia had shorter internodes than        plants of ‘Bonpriho’.    -   5. Leaves of plants of the new Euphorbia were darker green in        color than leaves of ‘Bonpriho’.    -   6. Plants of the new Euphorbia and ‘Bonpriho’ differed slightly        in flower bract color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Euphorbia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Euphorbia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Bonpri 635’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bonpri 635’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and herewith described indetail were grown in 12-cm containers during the autumn in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and undercultural practices typical of commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 13° C. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for typical flowering plants. Plants were four months old whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, Fourth Edition, 2007, except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex    Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonpri 635’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Euphorbia    pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch×Euphorbia cornastra ‘Bonprilipcom’,    disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,327.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 18° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at 16° C.            to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 18° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit; inverted triangle; inflorescences positioned above            the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 21.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 28.3 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit, about six lateral branches develop per            plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length:            About 14.8 cm. Diameter: About 3.6 mm. Internode length:            About 2.8 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 9 cm. Width: About 5.4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Margin: Shallowly serrulate; undulate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Rugose, pubescent. Color: Developing leaves,            upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137D. Fully developed leaves, upper            surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 144C. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to N137D; venation,            close to 144B. Petioles: Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About            2.1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B tinted with            close to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound            corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the            cyathia; inflorescences positioned above the foliage.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—One inflorescence develops per            lateral branch.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower during the            autumn and winter in Japan; inflorescence initiation and            development can also be induced under artificial long            nyctoperiod/short photoperiod conditions; early flowering            habit, plants flower about 50 days under natural season            conditions in Japan.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Euphorbia maintain good substance and            bract color for about seven weeks.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 24. Length,            largest bracts: About 3.5 cm. Width, largest bracts: About            2.4 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Obtuse, rounded. Margin: Entire to serrulate; slightly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Aspect: Mostly horizontal. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing or transitional            bracts, upper surface: Close to NN155B, 65C and 143A.            Developing or transitional bracts, lower surface: Close to            143C and 155C. Fully expanded bracts, immature, upper            surface: Close to 155A; occasionally with random spots,            close to 63A. Fully expanded bracts, immature, lower            surface: Close to 155C. Fully expanded bracts, mature, upper            surface: Close to NN155A; occasionally with random spots,            close to 63A; venation, close to 63A. Fully expanded bracts,            mature, lower surface: Close to NN155A; venation, close to            145C. Flower bract petioles: Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter:            About 1.1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 20. Diameter of cyathia            cluster: About 2.7 cm. Height, individual cyathium: About            6.2 mm. Diameter, individual cyathium: About 4.8 mm. Shape,            individual cyathium: Globose. Color: Close to 144A.            Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: One. Size: About 2.7 mm by            3.8 mm. Color: Close to N144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:            Numerous. Anther shape: Lanceolate or globose. Anther            length: About 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. Anther color: Close to 154B.            Amount of pollen: Scarce to none. Pollen color: Close to            155D. Pistils: Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been            observed to develop pistils.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Euphorbia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Euphorbia    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 8° C. to about    40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Euphorbia plant named ‘Bonpri 635’as illustrated and described.